INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN'S WORK PAYING DIVIDENDS

When Hurricane Andrew hit southwest Dade County three years ago, Zack volunteered to deliver food to families in Homestead whose homes had been destroyed.

Zack also volunteered for two years at the Florida Club Care Center, a nursing home in North Miami where his great-grandmother, Eva Finklestein, was a resident. She died about three years ago.

"It was a great experience," says Zack, 17.

Zack, a 12th-grader at University School, a private high school at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, is now helping children at the university's Baudhuin Oral School.

Twice a week, Zack reports to the school, which helps children who have communications and learning problems. He helps kindergarteners and first-graders with reading and writing and in identifying color and shapes. He also plays games with them.

"I enjoy working with the kids," says Zack, who lives in the Aventura section of northeast Dade County. "As long as I am helping them, I am happy. I know they need a lot of help; I get satisfaction in being able to see the kids learn more."

Zack says the staff at the Baudhuin Oral School is grateful for his help.

"They appreciate it more than anywhere else I've helped," he says. "They're always thanking me every day when I come."

Zack says his parents inspire him to do community service, and he thinks he is investing his time in a worthwhile manner.

"It means helping people that need help to further their education or standards of living," Zack says.

Zack, who will graduate from University School in June, plans to major in sports communications or business management at college.